In 2023, violence was killed 45,747 people in Brazil, at a rate of 125 deaths per day. However, the number records a simple reduction compared to the previous year when 46409 violent deaths were calculated.
This data is part of the Atlas of Violence 2025, which was issued on Monday (12) by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA), which is linked to the federal government and the Brazilian Public Security Organization (FBSP), a non -profit organization.
The study was compared to 2013, when the number of deaths reached 57396. That is, since then, there has been a decrease of 20.3 % in the amount of murders.
The year was with most cases 2017, with 6,5602 murders. Smaller, 2019, record 45,503 deaths. Compared to the year that recorded more cases, the decrease in 2023 is about 30 %.
The atlas of violence data is collected from official sources, such as the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), responsible for the population count, the death information system (SIM) and the notification information system (Sinan), the Ministry of Health.
The killing rate
As the Brazilian population has increased over the past few years, a way to know how the country’s murder rates are through the killing rate of 100,000 people.
This indicator reveals that in 2023, there were 21.2 murders per 100,000 people, the lowest rate ever registered in the study, by coordinating Ipea Daniel Serkira, and Executive Director of FBSP Samira Bueno.
By 2022, the rate was 21.7 murders per 100,000 people – by 2.3 % at the rate from year to year. The peak was in 2017, when it reached 31.8 records.
The number of murders in Brazil
2013: 57.396
2019: 45.503
2014: 60.474
2020: 49.868
2015: 59.080
2021: 47.847
2016: 62.517
2022: 46.409
2017: 65.602
2023: 45.742
2018: 57.956
The killing rate per 100,000 people
2013: 28,8
2019: 21.7
2014: 30.1
2020: 23.6
2015: 29.1
2021: 22,5
2016: 30.6
2022: 21,7
2017: 31.8
2023: 21,2
2018: 27.9
Reasons for staying
Although the study brings comparisons from 2013, researcher Daniel Serkira told Agência Brasil that the reduction in the killing rate exceeds this period.
“Despite the high number of deaths, the slightest murder has reached by Brazil over the past 31 years.”
According to him, two main factors explain this diminishing trend. One of them is the aging of the population, as young people are more associated with violence.
“What we know about scientific evidence is that an important actor, whether as a victim, or as a perpetrator in this drama of violence is the young man. When the population returns, it causes a wave to reduce murders.”
An invisible revolution
Another factor highlights Cerqueira, which is an “invisible revolution”, which can be explained by a change in public security policies, as it is for more qualification and intelligence.
He indicates that there is an exchange of “Public Security simply depends on the super police for a policy based on planning, data and science.”
He adds, “Smart police instead of the brutal police.” Cerqueira estimates that the police qualifications allow the identification and arrest of criminals.
The study coordinator also realizes that there are “multiple policies for the social prevention of the denier, every young man in these poor neighborhoods, competing with organized and unorganized crime.”
States
The Atlas of Violence provides data by union units (UF). In 2023, 20 countries provided the killing rate per 100,000 people higher than the national average, with negative importance to Imaba (57.4), Bahia (43.9) and Pernambuco (38).
Among the seven UFS without the national average, the lowest rates were recorded in Sao Paulo (6.4), Santa Katarina (8.8) and the federal region (11).
By performing a more expanded analysis, the document indicates that “for at least eight years, at least 11 UFS enables to reduce the killing rate systematically.”
They are Para, Rio Grande de Norte, Rio Grande de Sol, Santa Katarina, Sergebe, Federal District, Esperito Santo, Gwias, Minas Gerais, Paraipa and Sao Paulo.
On the other hand, in the past 11 years, the increase in deaths in Amaba has been 88.2 %, which shows the survey.
Firearms
Atlas of violence reveals that 32,749 murders committed firearms in the country. In 2017, in the most violent year, this number reached 49 thousand.
Data 2023 equivalent to 15.2 deaths of firearms per 100,000 people. It also represents that 71.6 % of violent deaths in the country have committed this type of weapons.
Amapá (48.3), Bahia (36.6) and Pernambuco (30.8) are the states that have the highest rates. On the other hand, they positively justify Sao Paulo (3.4), Santa Katarina (4.4), the federal region (5.3) and Minas Gerais (8.3).
The report refers to the weaknesses of overseeing weapons in the country and states that “the greater the circulation and spread of firearms, the higher the killing rate.”
Hidden murders
IPEA and FBSP researchers call “hidden murders” that are not sufficiently identified by official systems. Through sports models, they reach an estimated rate of murders.
The text says: “Between 2013 and 2023, we identified 51,608 hidden murders in Brazil, which passed from official violent statistics in the country, at an annual rate of 4,692 murders that are no longer calculated.”
With the addition of this data, the estimated rate of the country’s killings reaches 23 cases per 100,000 people. In addition to the effective status rate, it has also been a minor since 2013.
The highest point occurred in 2017, with 33.6 cases per 100,000 people. In 2022, 24.5 was marked.
Atlas of violence notes that the inclusion of hidden murders greatly changes the indicators of states.
Sao Paulo is the most extreme issue: in 2023, the state is no longer registered 2,277 murders. Thus, while the recorded killing rate was 6.4 per 100,000 people, this year was 11.2.
“With this, São Paulo is no longer the country is less violent in the country, as it moves to second, behind Santa Katarina (estimated by 100,000 people),” tightens the document.
